Mattress cover fitting device

ABSTRACT

A two-panel zipper-connected resilient core compressing sleeve for compressing and inserting said core in a cover. Panel tape release means attached to the zipper and extending outside said cover wherein the core is release from the sleeve and the sleeve is withdrawn from the cover.

United States Patent Imre Jack Smith Inventor 283 Hillhurst Blvd.,Toronto, Ontario, Canada Appl, No. 818,689

Filed Apr. 23, 1969 Patented Aug. 31, 1971 MATTRESS COVER FITTING DEVICEl0 (Ilalms, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 5/335, 5/339, 53/124 Int. Cl A473 9/00, 1365b 1/20 Field ofSearch5/335, 351,

339, 342, 355; 29/91-9 l .8; 53/124 T; 100/275, 241; 141/224 T; 150/52References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,597,397 5/1952 Stauffer 141/2492,867,879 1/1959 Urban etaL... 24/205.16OX 3,027,573 4/1962 B611 5/3553,059,301 10/1962 Dierks........ 24/205.15-5 3,246,443 4/1966 Slemmons5/355 UX 3,346,934 10/1967 Davidson .1 29/91.1

Primary Examiner-Paul R. Gilliam Attorney-George A. Rolston ABSTRACT: Atwo-panel zipper-connected resilient core compressing sleeve forcompressing and inserting said core in a cover. Panel tape release meansattached to the zipper and extending outside said cover wherein the coreis release from the sleeve and the sleeve is withdrawn from the cover.

PATENTEUAUB31 :97: 3,601,826

Inventor IMRE J. SMITH by: 9WA m.

MATTRESS COVER FITTING DEVICE This invention relates to a device forfitting a mattress cover around a mattress cushion, and is particularlydirected to the fitting of a cover of ticking or the like over amattress cushion consisting of a solid polyurethane foam block.

The construction of a mattress requires the cover to be fitted tightlyaround the cushion or core so that it is stretched and tensioned in alldirections and presents a pleasing appearance free of wrinkles. When thefitting of the cover around the core is performed in a factory, it isusual to employ relatively complex expensive machines, of which thereare many examples in granted patents, such as U.S. Pat. No. 2,597,397,E. .l. Staufier. However, in many cases such machinery is not available.For example, in hospitals and other like institutions it is frequentlynecessary to remove the mattress cover for cleaning after which it mustbe replaced. In such cases, the work is usually performed entirely byhand requiring the efforts of two or three persons to complete theoperation. The problem is more acute in the case of more upto-datemattresses such as those formed of foam rubber and polyurethane foam.The very nature of these materials creates greatly increased frictionbetween the core and the cover and increases the difficulty of fittingthe cover around the core.

It is therefore a general objective of the present invention to providea mattress cover fitting device which may be manufactured and soldwithin a price range suitable for purchase by a wide range of users suchas hospitals, institutions and the like, and which can be operated byone person working alone with only a minimum of instruction.

More particularly, it is an objective of the present invention toprovide a device having the foregoing advantages which provides a smoothsubstantially frictionless sleeve which can readily be fitted around thecore and which subjects the core to a certain degree of contractionthereby reducing the crosssectional dimensions of the core andfacilitating the introduction of the core into the cover, after which itmay be released from the core and withdrawn from the cover.

More particularly, it is an objective of the invention to provide adevice having the foregoing advantages which provides a sleeve havingtwo or more separable parts which is adapted to be fitted around themattress core and contract the mattress core, and which is adapted to beseparated into its separate parts while it is contained within themattress cover by an operator, after which the separate parts may beindividually moved, leaving the core in position in the cover.

The invention seeks to achieve the foregoing and other objectives by theuse of a composite sleeve device consisting of two. or more sleeveportions which may be fastened around the mattress core, and defines incross section a peripheral dimension which is less than the periphery ofthe cross section of the mattress core, thereby causing a predetermineddegree of compression in the cross section of the mattress core, and atthe same time provides a smooth outer surface with reduced degree offriction between itself and the mattress cover. Means are provided onthe sleeve portions for releasing them from one another after the corehas been inserted into the cover, thereby permitting the core to springout to its natural size and stretch the cover in all directions, thevarious sleeve portions being capable of being pulled out of the coverone by one without any difficulty.

The foregoing and other objectives will become apparent from thefollowing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention whichis given here by way of example only, with reference to the followingdrawings in which like reference devices refer to like parts thereofthroughout the various views and diagrams and in which:

FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of a mattress core encompassed by amattress cover fitting device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the mattresscover fitting device shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1, and,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the mechanism forreleasing the mattress-fitting device and showing a further embodimentin phantom.

Referring now to FIG. ll, it will be seen that a typical mattress core Cis shown which consists essentially of a rectangularly shaped block ofpolyurethane foam, of a type which exhibits an outer surface having avery high degree of friction or grip when applied to a material such asmattress ticking or the like used in a mattress cover. It is believedthat the construction of mattress covers themselves is so well known andconventional that it is unnecessary to illustrate such a cover here, butit will be understood that it consists merely of a rectangularly shapedfabric cover tailored to fit precisely and snugly around the core C andif such dimensions that when in position around the core C it isstretched and tensioned tightly in all directions to avoid any wrinkles.One end thereof may be opened and provided with buttons or tapes, or maybe zippered so that it may be opened up for removal from the core Thecover-fitting device according to the invention consists, according tothis preferred embodiment, of two separate portions, designated as theupper panel 10 and the lower panel 11. Both panels 10 and 11 are made ofidentical material which is either a smooth fabric having a surfacecharacterized by reduced friction, or is alternatively a synthetic wovenmaterial or even in some cases of synthetic plastic sheet or filmmaterial, or even a material of glass fibers or woven metallicfilaments. Obviously, in addition to these characteristics the materialof panel 10 and 11 should preferably be substantially unstretchable, atleast along an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the core Cfor obvious reasons.

Panels 10 and 11 are, according to this preferred embodiment, adapted tobe attached together to one another to form a composite sleeve byheavy-duty zippers indicated as 12 along either side thereof. Obviously,other forms of attachment may be employed, so long as, generallyspeaking, such attachment means are capable of being progressivelyattached, and released from one end to the other of panels 10 and 11,and also that such attachment means be capable of being at leastreleased by remote means operable from the open end of the mattresscover. The zippers 12 according to this preferred embodiment are ofconventional construction, and are of a caliber such as are employed onlarge pieces of luggage, or for outdoor use for example in tents ortruck body covers and the like adapted to withstand heavy usage.Preferably, according to this preferred embodiment the zippers 12 are ofthe type which can be completely released and separated from oneanother, and for this purpose, he zippers 12 are formed in two separateportions 12a and 12b and are provided with conventional interengagingslots and lugs indicated generally as 13 adapted to engage with oneanother and to disengage to separate the two halves of the zippers.Zipper slides 15 are provided for fastening and releasing the zippers12, being provided with operating tongues 16 in the usual manner.Tongues 16 are themselves provided with remote operating means such asthe tapes or bands 17, one end of which is attached to a respectivetongue 16, and the other end of which is preferably according to thisembodiment fastened by sewing or the like to the end of the lower panel11, or upper panel 10 as the case may be adjacent to the slots and lugs13 described above. Zipper slides 15 may optionally be modified by theattachment of a slide plate 18 to the underside thereof whereby tocontrol the movement thereof, plate 18 lying against the sidewallsurface of core C, which it will be understood at this point issubstantially compressed and is attempting to expand outwardly and mightotherwise tend to jam between the fastening devices of the zippers 12.

Preferably according to this embodiment of the invention where themattress core C requires any substantial compressive force, is founds ofassistance that some additional control and stiffness be provided toensure that the zippers l2 operate freely in both directions. For thispurpose, flexible spine members 19 are sewn along each side of upper andlower panels 10 and 11 immediately adjacent to the zippers 12. Thespines 19 are preferably of resilient springly material such as a fairlystiff wire cable, or a resilient plastic rod for example such that ittends to hold the adjacent edges of panels and 11 together andfacilitates the movement of the zipper slide along the zippers 12 inboth directions. 1

Preferably panels 10 and 11 have a length equal to the average length ofmattresses, cores or the like on which they will be used, and a widthdimension which, in aggregate, equals somewhat less than the totalmeasurement around or girth of the transverse cross section of themattress or core whereby to ensure adequate compression thereof.

In operation, the lower panel 12 is laid flat on a table and the core Cis placed on top of the panel 11 and the upper 10 is then placed on topof the core C. Along one side of core C the adjacent edges of panels 1 1and 12 are then drawn together by hand and a lug is inserted into therespective slot and the zipper slide 15 is then forced along the zipper12 thereby progressively closing those side edges together. Since panels10 and 11 have width dimensions which together define a cross-sectionaldimension less than the normal cross-sectional dimension of core C, theremaining free edges of panels 10 and 11 will be some distance apart.However, it is a relatively easy matter to compress the core C in theregion of the lug l4 and slot 13 and to force the two together andfasten them. After that it is simply a matter of forcing the zipperslide 15 gradually forward while compressing the portion of the core Cimmediately in front of the zipper slide 15 with the other hand. In thecases of an unusually resilient core C, it may be necessary for a secondperson to assist in this operation, although in the case of the averagemattress, this has been found to be unnecessary. Once both the zipperslides 15 are drawn out to the opposite end of panels 10 and 11, thebandsor tapes 17 will be found to have been drawn out more or lesstaught, and the entire core C will then have been enclosed within asleeve which compresses the core C to a cross-sectional dimension lessthan its normal cross section. It is then of course a simple matter tointroduce the core C into a mattress cover (not shown). It will ofcourse be understood that lugs and slots 13 must remain at the outer endof the core C, i.e. the end of the core C which will be adjacent to theopening of the mattress cover when the same has been drawn over theremainder of the core. When in this position it will be appreciated thatthe zipper slides 15 cannot be reached by hand since they are in theclosed end of the cover. However, all that is required is for theoperator to grasp the bands 17 and draw the zipper slides back towardshim and then with the zipper slides completely withdrawn, the lugs canbe withdrawn from the slots thereby completely separating panels 10 and11 from one another. The core C will of course expand to its normal sizeand completely fill the mattress cover and stretch it tightly in alldirections. However, since panels 10 and 11 are of smooth relativelyfrictionless construction, and are separated from one another and arethemselves no longer tensioned around core C, they can easily bewithdrawn by hand, leaving the core C located within the mattress cover.All that is then required is to fasten the open end of the mattresscover by whatever means are provided.

Obviously, there are a number of variations which can be incorporated inthe device without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus thepanels 10 and 11 can in fact be of metallic construction, and can befastened by a form of piano hinge whereby a piece of wire (not shown)can be progressively introduce through hingelike edges formed on panels10 and 11 of metallic construction, and once the core C has beenintroduced into the cover the wire member can then be withdrawn.Similarly the zipper 12 and zipper slide 15 can be replaced merely byresilient strips or beading formed along the adjacent edges of panels 10and 11 which are then held together by a plastic strip of U-shapedconstruction which is adapted to fit around the beading. Obviously, oncethe core is introduced into the cover this U-shaped channel member isthen simply withdrawn on each side leaving the upper and lower panels 10and 11 free to be removed again. It will be understood that theinvention described in connection with conventional zippers merelybecause such zippers are readily available on the market, and arereadily understood to persons skilled in the art, and the operation ofsuch zippers is familiar to almost all classes of persons who may everbe required to use such a device without any explanation whatever.

it will also be understood that while the invention has been describedas embodied in two such panels 10 and 11, it may in certaincircumstances be possible to use only a single panel which is adapted towrap right around the core and is fastened in only one place, althoughobviously, such a device might be somewhat more difficult to remove fromthe core once the core had been released from constriction. On the otherhand, in some cases it may be desirable to go to three or more suchpanels.

The foregoing is a description of a preferred embodiment of theinvention which is given here by way of example. The invention is not tobe taken as limited to any of the specific features described butcomprehends all such variations thereof as come within the scope of theappended claims.

1. A mattress cover fitting device for use in compressing and releasinga compressible mattress core in the fitting of a tailored cover on asaid compressible mattress core or the like of predetermined length andgirth and comprising;

sleeve-forming means of predetermined length corresponding approximatelyto the length of said core and of predetermined girth corresponding tosomewhat less than that of said core, said sleeve forming means beingsubstantially nonstretchable around its girth at least and defining twoends, one said end being open and free of obstruction whereby tofacilitate release of said core therefrom;

releasable fastening means extending lengthwise releasably operablecontinuously along at least one side of said sleeve means from said openend to the other said end permitting the same to be closed around a saidcore and released therefrom within said cover and,

manually operable release means connected to said fastening means andextending from said open end to said other end of said sleeve means, bymeans whereof said fastening means may be released from said other endof said sleeve means, said release means being operable from said otherend of said sleeve means to procure continuous release operation of saidfastening means along said side of said sleeve means from said open endto said other end while said sleeve means and core are located withinsaid cover.

2. A mattress cover fitting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidrelease means comprises a flexible band having one end connected to saidfastening means and the other end attached to one end of said sleevemeans. i

3. A mattress cover fitting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidreleasable fastening means includes interengageable fastener portions,and movable fastener slide means engageable therewith, and slidablethere along to procure engagement and disengagement thereof.

4. A mattress cover fitting device as claimed in claim 1 includingresilient spine means in said sleeve means adjacent to said fasteningmeans;

5. A mattress cover fitting device as claimed in claim 1 including twopanel members together comprising said sleeve means, each said panelmember being of rectangular shape in plan having long and short sides,said fastening means being attached along said long sides for joiningsame together to form said sleeve means.

6. A mattress cover fitting device as claimed in claim 5 including twopairs of complementary fastener portions attached to adjacent long sidesof said panel members, and fastener slide means attached to one of saidfastener portions in each said pair, and being releasablyinterengageable with the other fastener portion in each said pair, andbeing slidable therealong to engage and disengage said fastener portion.

7. A mattress cover fitting device as claimed in claim 5 includingseparate manually operable release means along each eluding resilientspine members attached to said panel members along the long sidesthereof.

10 A mattress cover fitting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidsleeve means defines an essentially continuous tubular member of regulardiameter from end to end, and wherein both said ends are open and freeof obstruction.

1. A mattress cover fitting device for use in compressing and releasing a compressible mattress core in the fitting of a tailored cover on a said compressible mattress core or the like of predetermined length and girth and comprising; sleeve-forming means of predetermined length corresponding approximately to the length of said core and of predetermined girth corresponding to somewhat less than that of said core, said sleeve forming means being substantially nonstretchable around its girth at least and defining two ends, one said end being open and free of obstruction whereby to facilitate release of said core therefrom; releasable fastening means extending lengthwise releasably operable continuously along at least one side of said sleeve means from said open end to the other said end permitting the same to be closed around a said core and released therefrom within said cover and, manually operable release means connected to said fastEning means and extending from said open end to said other end of said sleeve means, by means whereof said fastening means may be released from said other end of said sleeve means, said release means being operable from said other end of said sleeve means to procure continuous release operation of said fastening means along said side of said sleeve means from said open end to said other end while said sleeve means and core are located within said cover.
 2. A mattress cover fitting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said release means comprises a flexible band having one end connected to said fastening means and the other end attached to one end of said sleeve means.
 3. A mattress cover fitting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said releasable fastening means includes interengageable fastener portions, and movable fastener slide means engageable therewith, and slidable there along to procure engagement and disengagement thereof.
 4. A mattress cover fitting device as claimed in claim 1 including resilient spine means in said sleeve means adjacent to said fastening means.
 5. A mattress cover fitting device as claimed in claim 1 including two panel members together comprising said sleeve means, each said panel member being of rectangular shape in plan having long and short sides, said fastening means being attached along said long sides for joining same together to form said sleeve means.
 6. A mattress cover fitting device as claimed in claim 5 including two pairs of complementary fastener portions attached to adjacent long sides of said panel members, and fastener slide means attached to one of said fastener portions in each said pair, and being releasably interengageable with the other fastener portion in each said pair, and being slidable therealong to engage and disengage said fastener portion.
 7. A mattress cover fitting device as claimed in claim 5 including separate manually operable release means along each pair of long sides of said panel members, both said release means extending to the same end of said panel members for releasing of said fastening means from said ends.
 8. A mattress cover fitting device as claimed in claim 5 wherein each of said panel members is of width equal to somewhat less than one-half of the girth of said core.
 9. A mattress cover fitting device as claimed in claim 5 including resilient spine members attached to said panel members along the long sides thereof. 10 A mattress cover fitting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sleeve means defines an essentially continuous tubular member of regular diameter from end to end, and wherein both said ends are open and free of obstruction. 